An Immersion in Education for Respect and the Open

Job shadowing in Coimbra and Figueira da Foz

The Erasmus+ mobility involved 2 pedagogists, 5 nursery educators and 2 kindergarten teachers in Coimbra and Figueira da Foz, Portugal.
The experience, focused on the themes of Respect Education and Outdoor Education, took place within the Bissaya Barreto Foundation.

Initially, the group jointly visited the Casa da Criança Maria Granado (service 0-6) and the Colégio Bissaya Barreto (primary school) in Coimbra, and the Casa da Criança S. Julião (service 0-6) in Figueira da Foz. This phase allowed an initial overview of local education systems.

The reception was characterized by warmth and professionalism, with gestures of mutual gratitude such as the exchange of Italian silent books and homemade Portuguese notebooks for the collection of suggestions and ideas.

The educational services impressed the participants for the care of the spaces, designed not as rigid sections, but as thematic “rooms”. A flexible and organized model of educational rotation has been found, which guarantees a diversification of experiences for girls, boys and adults. The quality and quantity of the documentation was noted, often supported by the use of images to involve girls, boys and families.

An element of great interest was the distinctly ecological and sustainable vision integrated into daily practices, with active projects on respect and care for the environment. The services make extensive use of recycled and recycled materials for outdoor equipment and games.

In particular, Casa da Criança Maria Granado has access to a 'forest' owned by the Foundation, where girls and boys live an immersive outdoor educational experience, carrying out most of their daily activities there, including meals and rest. The Casa da Criança S. Julião, a member of the national project “Eco Escolas”, has also highlighted a strong commitment to the use of outdoor spaces, with vegetable gardens, mud installations and structures made with recycled materials.

In the following days, the group divided up a more focused job shadowing, allowing them to deepen their relationship with local teams, observe daily routines and dynamics. The time dedicated to documentation, collecting notes and sharing impressions was a fundamental part of the experience.

The staff of the Bolognese services returned with numerous food for thought and new awareness of the similarities and differences between educational contexts. The experience has also strengthened collaboration and mutual knowledge between colleagues, creating a climate of sharing and lightness that goes beyond work objectives, contributing to the strengthening of the institution's human capital.

Services involved: Cantalamessa and Neri kindergartens, Acquerello, Aquilone, Cavazzoni, Gramsci and Mazzoni kindergartens.